First budget reading; more changes planned

Pike commissioners approved the first reading of the county’s proposed budget with no employee pay raise at their May 2 hearing but there will be several changes before the third hearing and approval.
Commissioners must decide whether or not to return the animal shelter donation of $225,000 or return it if there are no plans to open the shelter.

A special workshop to discuss the budget will be held at 8 a.m., before the regular morning meeting May 10.

The second reading of the budget is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 25 in the main courtroom of the courthouse.

The third reading and final adoption of the budget is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 30.
County manager Brandon Rogers noted the funding required to operate an animal shelter will be discussed at the next commission meeting which will be held Wednesday, May 10 at 9 a.m. in the main courtroom of the courthouse.

Other budget changes could include having employees contribute 2% to retirement starting July 2023. Rogers said if employees start paying the 2%, it would be a contribution of around $200,000 which would help pay the county’s $600,000 retirement costs.

Rogers said there is an increase in property tax and that will probably be around $860,000 if there are no changes in the digest. He said there are changes in the digest that happen every year and the budget will have to be finalized based on that. Commissioner James Jenkins asked about the prior year’s revenues which were $530,000.

Commissioner Jason Proctor asked when the county will have numbers on insurance costs. Rogers said they are having issues with Aetna and he anticipates the county will have the information in about two to three weeks.